Oscillatory support for drum washing machines

Abstract

An oscillatory support for drum washing machines having a horizontal axis of rotation comprises a washer unit (1) supported on a base plate (4) via at least two spring struts (2) disposed at either side of the vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation. The spring struts (2) are elastically articulated at one end on the base plate (4) and on the other end are articulated with their respective tappets (13) on the washer unit (1). In order to provide support means which are simple in design and easily mounted and which have good oscillatory and damping properties, the spring struts (2) are articulated at both ends by means of a plug connection to the base plate (4) and the washer unit (1), respectively.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An oscillatory support for drum washing machines having a horizontal axis of rotation, including a washer unit supported on a base plate via at least two telescopic spring struts disposed at either side of a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation, each spring strut having one end articulated elastically on the base plate and an opposite end articulated on the washer unit via a tappet, said support comprising: a plug connection for articulating each end of said spring struts on the base plate and the washer unit, respectively, the plug connection including   a tang coaxially disposed on each of the upper and lower ends of each spring strut,   a vibration and damping element formed of an elastic material disposed in a support casing on each of said base plate and said washer unit, each said vibration and damping element having the same cross-section as said support casings and being supported on its bottom and sides by its respective casing and with its upper end facing the spring strut,   each lower end tang being disposed in a respective vibration and damping element supported on said base plate with a friction-tight press fit, and each upper end tang being disposed in a respective vibration and damping element supported on said washer unit with a friction-tight press fit,   means for compressing said vibration and damping element as said spring strut elongates, including a thrust bearing, each spring strut resting on the upper end of its respective vibration and damping element with said thrust bearing, and   each vibration and damping element being fixed in its respective support casing in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the spring strut.   
     
     
       2. A support as defined by claim 1, wherein each vibration and damping element has a recess passing all the way through it and receiving the respective tang, and the respective support casings each have an associated passageway opening. 
     
     
       3. A support as defined by claim 1, wherein the vibration and damping elements (35, 36) have a longer length (primary axis 33) in the direction (43) perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis (21) of the spring support (2) and perpendicular to the axis of rotation (6) than in the direction (44) perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis (21) and parallel to the axis of rotation (6) (secondary axis 34), said vibration and damping elements being of unitary construction. 
     
     
       4. A support as defined by claim 1, wherein a given vibration and damping element (35 or 36) is disposed in a support casing (26 or 30) having the same cross section. 
     
     
       5. A support as defined by claim 1, wherein a given spring strut (2) rests on its respective vibration and damping element (35, 36) with a thrust bearing (20, 23). 
     
     
       6. A support as defined by claim 5, characterized in that a given vibration and damping element (35, 36) is disposed in a support casing (26, 30) having the same cross-section, and has a recess (39, 40) passing all the way through it and receiving the respective tang (22, 24), and the respective support casings (26, 30) each have an associated passageway opening (28, 32). 
     
     
       7. An oscillatory support for drum washing machines having a horizontal axis of rotation, including a washer unit supported on a base plate via at least two telescopic spring struts disposed at either side of a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation, each spring strut including a longitudinal axis and having one end articulated elastically on the base plate and an opposite end articulated on the washer unit via a tappet, said support comprising: a plug connection for articulating each end of each said spring strut on the base plate and the washer unit, respectively, the plug connection including   a tang coaxially disposed on each of the upper and lower ends of each spring strut,   a unitary vibration and damping element disposed in a support casing on each of said base plate and said washer unit, each said vibration and damping element having the same cross-section as said support casings and including a coaxial bore, said vibration and damping elements each being supported on its bottom and sides by its respective casing,   each lower end tang being disposed in the bore of a respective vibration and damping element supported on said base plate, and each upper end tang being disposed in the bore of a respective vibration and damping element supported on said washer unit,   each spring strut resting on its respective vibration and damping element with a thrust bearing, and   each vibration and damping element being fixed in its respective support casing in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spring strut, whereby axial support for each spring strut is provided substantially solely by said thrust bearings while support for said spring strut is directions normal to said strut longitudinal axis is provided solely by the interaction of said upper and lower end tangs with their respective vibration and damping element.   
     
     
       8. A support as defined by claim 7, wherein a given tang (22, 24) is disposed in its respective vibration and damping element (35, 36) with a friction-tight press fit, and that a given vibration and damping element (35, 36) is fixed in the associated support casing in the direction of the central longitudinal axis (21) of the spring strut (2). 
     
     
       9. A support as defined by claim 7, wherein the vibration and damping elements (35, 36) have a longer length (primary axis 33) in the direction (43) perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis (21) of the spring support (2) and the perpendicular to the axis of rotation (6) than in the direction (44) perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis (21), and parallel to the axis of rotation (6) (secondary axis 34), said vibration and damping elements being of unitary construction.